Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Friday, 23 February 2024

BBC News

• Vauxhall to build electric vans at Luton plant from 2025Vauxhall owner Stellantis has announced it is to begin making electric vehicles at its factory in Luton.
• Bedford poll suggests strong support for East West RailThe results of a survey suggest 75% of people in Bedford support the East West Rail (EWR) project.
• No timescale for reopening Cairngorm funicularThe owners of the UK's highest railway say there is no timescale yet for reopening the attraction following its latest problems.
• Why we fear cuts to free parking in our townBusinesses in Paisley fear a move to scrap three hours free parking could damage the high street.

Financial Times

• IAG takeover of Air Europa faces fresh challenges in Brussels European Commission prepares to voice competition objections to Iberia owner’s purchase of Spanish rival
• Short cuts: Belgian plane crashes at Courchevel The accident is the seventh since 2016 at the French ski resort's challenging mountaintop Altiport

The Guardian

• The Rolls-Royce miracle is stunning, but it didn't happen overnight The CEO described Rolls as a burning platform when he arrived in 2023, but its trajectory was already upwardsIt wasn't an imagined nightmare: Rolls-Royce really was flat on its back in 2020 during the early stage of the Covid pandemic.

The Sun

• ON TRACK New £30million train station to open in the UK – with ’best ever transport museum’ and indoor adventure parkAldridge station in Walsall, West Midlands, first opened in 1879. While the station closed to passengers in 1965, its tracks have still been routinely used by freight services in the years since its closure.

Network Rail

• Major upgrades to the railway in the north east to result in changes to services in MarchNetwork Rail engineers will be carrying out major upgrades to the East Coast Main Line between York and Newcastle in March, resulting in some changes to train services.

Birmingham Mail

• Andy Street's 'plan' to fund huge HS2 cycleway linking Birmingham to CoventryIt's understood Andy Street has the backing of local authorities over plans to build a 21-mile cycleway linking the two cities
• Birmingham Airport's new easyJet hub opens next month with 100 jobs goingThe airline giant opens its brand new base at BHX next month, with 100 jobs up for grabs for roles including pilots and cabin crew

Hull Daily Mail

• ’Reliable services, night-time transport for shift workers and more shelters’ – what Hull and East Yorkshire people want from their busesHull Bus Alliance, a partnership of operators in the Hull and East Yorkshire area, has responded to feedback received from bus passengers, following a drop-in session at Tesco, Hall Road, Orchard Park, and a transport forum hosted by the Hull University Students’ Union (HUSU).

South Wales Argus

• 'Unsafe' Caerphilly Railway Station footbridge will be removedAN “UNSAFE” footbridge over the tracks at Caerphilly railway station will be removed after months of uncertainty.

Other Regional Press

• Cornwall Airport Newquay Celebrates Surge In Passenger Numbers And Air Traffic MovementsCornwall Airport Newquay has reported a significant increase in airport activity for the month of January, marking a promising start to the new year. According to the latest data, the airport welcomed 18,318 passengers through its terminal last month, representing a 26% increase compared to the same period last year.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Reading runs gas buses on new-look routeReading Buses has put some of its Alexander Dennis-bodied Scania gas buses on its new look service 9.
• Wrightbus hydrogen coach planned for 2026 “The concept is ready, the predevelopment work has been done, so we are confident we can launch it in 2026” – Jean-Marc Gales Wrightbus’ planned hydrogen coach is expected to be in production by 2026. Jean-Marc Gales, Wrightbus CEO, told B&CB that a prototype model intended to demonstrate the powertrain is expected towards the end of the year.

Coach and Bus Week

• Ioki launches new route navigation systemGerman digital public transport specialist Ioki is launching a new product which it says will simplify navigation for buses and rail replacement services. The new Ioki Route system is being developed together with Berlin city operator Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG).

New Civil Engineer

• Disused Northumberland railway to become greenway after bridges saved from infillingA community interest company (CIC) in Northumberland has leased a section of disused railway to make it an active travel path after the 19th century bridges on the route were prevented from being infilled.
• How to make the rail network climate resilient and nature-positiveThe rail network faces unique biodiversity and resilience challenges. Overcoming them could set the direction for wider infrastructure.
• Legal challenge against trio of A47 upgrades dismissed but may go to Supreme CourtThree major new road schemes on the A47 in Norfolk are a step closer to going ahead after a legal challenge was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, but the claimant may take the case to the Supreme Court.

Rail Advent

• Greater Manchester railway station to be relocated and rebuiltMossley in Greater Manchester is to have a new station built to replace the existing one, the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has set out plans to build a new fully accessible Mossley station 300 meters to the east of the current station which was built in 1849.
• Disruption to Yorkshire and Newcastle trains as upgrade work takes placeServices on the East Coast Main Line will be disrupted over two weekends next month as Network Rail engineers carry out major upgrades between York and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Railway Gazette

• Business travel technology partnershipUK: Ticket agent International Rail is to partner with the Business Travel Association to look at ’the simplest, most efficient and most cost-effective ways’ to use technology to meet rail travel needs.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Oxford Bus promotes Glenn De Sousa to Head of CommercialOxford Bus Group has appointed Glenn De Sousa as Head of Commercial to help drive network growth.

Other News Sources

• TfL expects £132M Old Street station upgrade to be finalised by JuneTransport for London (TfL) expects that all handover and assurance of its £132M Old Street roundabout and station upgrade will be completed by June.
• Great British Railways will increase data sharing for better digital twins, industry figures sayGreat British Railways (GBR) could increase collaboration within the rail sector and with other departments, helping to exploit the benefits of digital twins, according to a panel of experts from the rail industry.
• York claims country’s biggest all-electric park and rideYork now has the largest all-electric bus network in the UK, it is being claimed, following introduction of a further zero-emissions vehicle.
• London Underground: Inside new 'significantly larger' Bakerloo line entrance set to 'speed up journeys'Work to construct the London Underground's new Bakerloo line entrance at Paddington station is continuing ahead of is scheduled opening in the summer. Transport for London (TfL) say the 'significantly larger' ticket hall will speed up journeys due to there being more ticket gates for customers.
• Herts railway engineering work reaches major milestoneModernisation work on the East Coast Main Line has reached a major milestone following recent engineering work between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin.
• Stanford-le-Hope new station issues told to Thurrock CouncilA CATALOGUE of failures over plans for a new £29 million train station mean there is no chance it will be built in the short term despite part of the old station being demolished in 2020.
• Greater Manchester town to get new train station 300m down the road from current one with disruption expectedPlans to move Mossley station to a different location by the end of the decade have been tabled by rail bosses.